Playwright Files Lawsuit To Shut Down Barbershop 3
Barbershop 3: The Next Cut will be open for business on Friday (April 15), but the drama has already walked in without an appointment.
Playwright JD Lawrence has filed a $20 million lawsuit against Warner Bros. and Showtime claiming the hit franchise ripped off his 1998 play, “Scissors.” He’s also asking a judge to shut down the film before it opens in theaters.
Via TMZ:
JD Lawrence says all 3 ‘Barbershop’ flicks, and the Showtime TV series, bear an uncanny resemblance to scenes from “Scissors” … a play he wrote and toured around the country from 1998 to 2001.
He says his play was set in a barbershop in a black neighborhood, and focused on the shop’s importance to the community … which, of course, is the same as the movies.
Lawrence says the similarities include … characters, plot lines, and events. He points out “Scissors” has an elderly owner — just like Cedric the Entertainer’s character, Eddie. And both feature similar discussions about the O.J. Simpson murder trial — and white barbers who get clowned … for being white.
He’s suing Warner Bros and Showtime for at least $20 million, and wants to block the release of ‘The Next Cut.’ Tick-tock … Friday’s coming up real quick.
I did a little digging and found this clip from the “Scissors” stage play.
Watch on page 2 and tell me if you feel there’s some shady business going on.